roads current

search

TheHigh Alpine Road

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road

One of Austria’s top 3 destinations amidst the Alps

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is like an ornament of ribbons located between green mountain pastures, colourful flower meadows, rocky rubble, ice and show. It nestles up against hills, follows the course of the natural ground and fits the mountains like a glove. Whooshing waterfalls, the shrill whistling of marmots and the howling wind in the summit regions create an unforgettable high alpine soundscape. And then, all of a sudden, he appears: his majesty, the Grossglockner, the black mountain. Join us for a journey beyond compare up high to the perpetual ice of the glacier!

tour book

engine & tyres

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road at the heart of High Tauern National Park

The mountain pass road with a total of 48 km and 36 turns leads deep into the centre of Austria’s largest national park with an area of 1,800 km² that extends across the provinces of Salzburg, Tyrol and Carinthia. The highest point of the mountain road is the Edelweissspitze located at just above 2,500 m. Several 3,000 m peaks open up to the wandering gaze, but the largest of them all is the Grossglockner. The striking mountain towers above the entire region at 3,798 m, and is at the same time the highest summit of the Alpine Republic. Visitors from all over the world flock from the Grossglockner High Alpine Road to the centre of the national park every year. Pay a visit to his majesty, the Grossglockner, yourself!

Historic north-south connection: Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Humans have been crossing the Alps on a path that mainly follows the modern road for more than 3,500 years. Celts, Romans, sumpters, gold diggers and galley slaves got past this strenuous and dangerous path, but not without praying to the gods for good weather and a safe journey at the apex of the route. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road leads from Fusch-Ferleiten in Salzburg to Heiligenblut in Carinthia. The high alpine road, which is fit for car, bus, motorbike and bicycle traffic, owes its origin to the road engineer Franz Wallack and Franz Rehrl, the forward-looking state governor of Salzburg. They were also the first to drive on the gravel road back in 1934 when it was yet to be completed. Ultimately, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road was inaugurated in summer of 1935.

Driving to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe: the journey is the reward

The highlight of driving on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, without a doubt, is the viewpoint that the Habsburg emperor once visited himself. Today, a multi-storey car park, visitors’ centre, observation tower and gastronomy are to be found up here, all of which offer unique views of the snow-covered Grossglockner, the 9 km glacial lobe Pasterze and the Johannisberg. Watch wild animals in their natural habitat along the alpine road, on hiking trails and on the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe: ibexes, chamois, marmots, vultures and golden eagles. Rest spots, information points, nine exhibitions and rest stop options make a daytrip on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road fly by.

Austria’s most coveted alpine road: summer driving fun for everyone

Once the road has been laboriously cleared of snow in spring, which is done with the tireless work of rotation ploughs constructed by road engineer Franz Wallack in 1954, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road can be opened to traffic every year in late April/early May. Guests from all over the world experience the fascinating alpine world on a road that is accessible to everyone until late October/early November. The alpine road crosses several vegetation zones – from mountain meadows to the perpetual ice up high. Navigation is easy: a milestone marked 0 is located at Gasthof Lukashäusl at the Glockner Bridge. From there onwards, there are granite stones with kilometre markings on the roadside at least every 200 m.

Special sights along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road

You won’t miss any points of interest during your Glockner ascent as the folder you will receive at the pay desks and additional blue information signs show you all sights and the adventure worlds along the road. Families, couples and groups of all ages will find exactly the places and topics they’re most interested in among the nine exhibitions, four themed playgrounds, nature paths and information points. There are special offers for motorcyclists and many more tips and tour suggestions for the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the four other unique pass and mountain roads around the Glockner in the enjoyment drivers’ brochure, which you can download for free.

The picturesque Grossglockner High Alpine Road served as a magnificent backdrop for many movies and music videos: from Peter Alexander to Xavier Naidoo to popular Bollywood movies. Discover the great alpine road yourself: check out the opening hours and ticket prices online now!